THE GREAT KURUKSHETRA WAR - THIRTEENTH DAY

Bhagadatta attacked Arjuna with his gigantic elephant named Suprateeka. It was a fierce battle in which Bhagadatta matched Arjuna astra for astra but Arjun slew him at the end of 13th day. Arjuna's son Abhimanyu was also killed.

On the thirteenth day, early in the dawn, Duryodhana went to Drona and said to him, "Esteemed master of the bow, yesterday I expected you to capture Yudhisthira. Your partiality towards the Pandavas was responsible for not fulfilling the pledge. Actions of great people are perhaps inexplicable." Dronachrya was offended by the accusation o Duryodhana, I am doing my best. Everything went off according to my plan yesterday and Yudhisthira was in my easy reach. Just at the nick of time, Arjuna intervened. There is a destiny that shapes our ends. Man proposes but God disposes. However let us do our best today. You must somehow remove Arjuna from the scene of my action." Again the Samsaptakas came forward to attack Arjuna with the suicidal frenzy. They challenged Arjuna. He accepted the challenge and Sri Krishna drove the chariot to the southern sector.

The Kaurava army was arrayed in the lotus formation which was technically known as the 'Padma Vyuha' . Yudhisthira told Abhimnayu, "Brave son, the preceptor has posed the most perplexing problem by arraying the Kaurava army in the yonder 'Padma Vyuha'. See, he is standing at the gate. This is the most formidable challenge of my life. Your worthy father and your illustrious uncle went to the southern sector to conquer the Samsaptakas. The generalissimo has vowed to capture me. You are our only hope in the absence of your father. Nobody here has any knowledge of this extraordinary array devised by Dronacharya." Abhimanyu, bubbling with youthful enthusiasm replied, "I should like to be the worth son of a worthy father and a matching nephew to my great maternal uncle, Sri Krishna. My father told me how to enter the array. But I am yet to be initiated into the intricacies of extrication and exit. However, I am going for breaking open the passage.


Bhima said, "That is quite enough. We will all enter the array in your sake to protect you. Who can stop us? When once you make the passage, we will break through and pound the whole army to pieces. The question of your coming out does not arise. Dhrishtadyumna and Sikhandi, Satyaki and Chekitana, so many of us will get in and give fight. These arrays are there to be broken and everyday we are doing it. It is for you to make the first dent and immediately we all will smash the fortification." Dharmaputra said, "All our warriors tried their level best for the break through but failed miserably. Our prestige is at stake; they are cruel veterans of war; you are an urchin, your young wife is pregnant; you are the only son of your mother Subhadra; I am not able to convince my conscience to send you into the lotus array, knowing fully well that it is a tough job. Abhimanyu told Yudhisthira, "Please don't worry. Drona cannot stop me." Turning to his charioteer, Sumithra, he said, "Dear friend, drive the chariot towards Drona" and blew his conch. Bhima, Dhrishratadyumna and other warriors blew their conches and were followed by Abhimnayu. Sumithra, the charioteer of Abhimanyu cautioned him saying, "Brave boy you are rushing single- handed, inexperienced as you are, to attack experienced veterans like Drona and Karna. Beware." Abhimanyu replied, "I have faced them many a time already. I am even confident that I can conquer Savyasachi and Sri Krishna not to speak of Drona, Karna and Vikarna."

Abhimanyu charged against Drona like a forked lightning, on his chariot, displayling the dazzling 'karnikara flower', on his flag. Drona told him, "This is an impregnable fortification. I will not allow you to enter it; in fact, Arjuna, Sri Krishna and his son Pradyumna are the only warriors who have the know- how to break through this lotus formation. Please go back." Abhimanyu replied with reckless shafts. Drona tried to caution the boy hero but he fought with him fiercely and made a small cleavage. It was a small crack and not a crash. Drona held the formidable formation in fact in spite of the terrific onslaught made by Abhimanyu who forced his entry through the small breach, with a bang. He pushed forward with amazing vigour, killing elephants, destroying cavalry units and slaughtering infantry on his way. The Pandava warriors led by Bhima marched forward but suddenly Saindhava obstructed their way and closed the breach created by Abhimanyu, successfully. The Pandavas surged forward surrounding him from the three sides like the surging waves of the ocean but Saindhava stood like a rock and did not give way.

Yudhistira cut his bow into two. Jayadratha calmly took another bow and renewed the fight with rare calmness and composure. He appeared as the very embodiment of self confidence. He hit Satyaki thrice, Bhimasena eight times and Dhrishtadyumna twenty times. The Pandavas were expecting that Saindhava's unexpected brilliance to be a passing phase. But Saindhava wrecked the chariot of Bhima with reckless ease and shot scorching shafts at Yudhisthira piercing his armour. The Pandavas kept up their attack hoping that Saindhava would give away any minute. Dhritarashtra exclaimed in admiration and amazement "Sanjaya, it is strange that Saindhava could hold the whole Pandava at bay single -handed, I should not like to know real cause, if there is any, behind the incredible performance of Jayadratha." Sanjaya narrated the story of Saindhava's humiliation at the hands of the Pandavas when he abducted Draupadi and added, "Great King, your son-in-law subsequently performed penance and obtained a boon from Lord Shiva that he would have the satisfaction of defeating the Pandavas with the exception of Arjuna on the battlefield on a single day."

Abhimanyu, was unmindful of the untoward predicament of the Pandavas. He did not look back and continued his forward march and dashed towards Duryodhana like a hungry lion leaping on an elephant. Immediately the Kaurava generalissimo raised his hand and shouted aloud, "Warriors, come, the son of Arjuna has attacked the King. Please rush to his rescue." Abhimanyu hit Karna piercing his armour. Salya attacked Abhimnayu who wrecked his chariot and hit him hard with powerful shafts. Salya swooned on his chariot. Abhimanyu blew his conch triumphantly. Salya’s brother attacked Abhimanyu who cut off his two hands first and the head next with three shafts. Nobody could stem the advance of Abhimanyu who indulged in indiscriminate slaughter, undaunted by the combined attack of the Kaurava warriors. Duhsasana said , "I will defeat him and put him to death in a single combat. If he dies, Arjuna will automatically collapse. Without Arjuna the Pandavas will collapse. Consequently we can surely pocket victory." Enunciating his oversimplified thesis, Duhsasana attacked Abhimanyu who was overjoyed to see him. He said to Duhsasana, Pseudo hero, this is a battlefield; this is not the Kaurava court where you humiliated Draupadi." So saying, Abhimanyu wrecked the chariot of Duhsasana, killed the horses and the charioteer and pierced his armour, hitting him with several shafts. Duhsasana swooned and Duryodhana took him into his chariot to render medical aid.

Karna attacked Abhimanyu at the instance of Duryodhana and gave him a stiff fight to him for some time. However, Abhimanyu defeated Karna and drove him from the battlefield and blew his conch in exultation. Karna’s brother attacked Abhimanyu only to lose his life. Afterwards Vrishasena fought with Abhimanyu and was defeated by the indefatigable hero. The next victim of the fury of Abhimanyu was prince Lakshamana, the son of Duryodhana. They fought bravely for sometime locked in equal combat but Abhimanyu got the better of him and chopped off his head with a crescent shaft. Yasmantaka, the Magadha prince, the Kalingas and Nishadas, Brihadbala, the king of Kosala met their death at the hands of Abhimanyu. All the Kaurava warriors surrounded Abhimanyu in a cumulative fight. Drona killed his horses. Kripa killed the charioteer. Karna broke his bow shooting an arrow from the rear. Salya and Asvatthama together wrecked his chariot.

Abhimanyu jumped from his chariot and stood on the ground holding his sword and shield. He wrought havoc with the Kaurava army, moving like an elephant in a lotus pond. His sword and shield were cut to pieces. Undaunted he took out the wheels of his chariot one by one and faught bravely hurling them against the enemy. Meanwhile, the son of Duhsasana attacked him with his mace and both fell down dead. The Kaurava army blew their conches and cries of victory rented the sky. However many good people in the Kaurava army shed tears silently. Sanjaya told Dhritarashtra, "While the Kaurava warriors danced round the dead body of Abhimanyu, in exulatation as the savage hunters do over their prey, Yuyutsu, your son cried aloud, "Shame to Kaurava soldiers. The heroic code is transgressed. You can revel today in wicked joy. But beware, you will reap the consequences tomorrow. This is not merely the death of Abhimanyu. The sacred code of martial honour is dead today on the holy field of Kurukshetra." So saying he threw his weapons on the battlefield and went away.